News: Fort Carson commanding general shares joy of reading

Members of the 4th Infantry Division Ivy Division Band perform for Fort Carson children during the Fort Carson Parent to Parent program's Tell Me A Story event at the Special Events Center on post, April 22, 2012. Parents brought their children to the event to experience the joys of reading and enjoy a few hours of music, imagination and fun.

The 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson commanding general read a humorous story about farm animals, “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type,” to share the joys of reading and imagination with Fort Carson youngsters at the Special Events Center on post, April 22.

The Tell Me A Story event, hosted by the Fort Carson Parent to Parent program, highlighted the importance of literacy, giving parents the opportunity to bring their children to a fun, wholesome and educational event, said Anderson.

In recent months, the 4th Inf. Div. command team focused on education, meeting with university and college presidents, and local public school officials, to ensure soldiers and their families receive maximum support from the Front Range academic community.

“With this event, the focus has trickled on down to the importance of education for all of our kids on Fort Carson,” Anderson said.

After story time, the children gathered in groups to discuss what they learned, listened to a performance by the 4th Infantry Division Ivy Division Band, designed bracelets and received a copy of the book signed by Anderson.

In keeping with the agricultural theme of the story, the children also petted horses provided by the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard.

“We’ve been to a couple of these already, and we really enjoy it,” said Elisha Arellano, wife of Sgt. 1st Class Albert Arellano an armor crewmember serving as a brigade master gunner, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div. “My husband is deployed, and it’s good to find things like this on post to keep the family busy. I think this encourages young children to read and learn.”

Arellano’s son, A.J., said his favorite part of the event was hearing about cows and chickens going on strike, refusing to give the farmer milk or eggs until he meets their demands.

The Parent to Parent Program, an organization that provides workshops for military families to assist in transitioning children from post to post, build resiliency, and excel academically, selected the book for more than entertainment value, said Tracy Brown, Fort Carson Parent to Parent program.

“The books are carefully chosen by our organization to help families empower their children,” Brown explained. “The books discuss different morals, different themes that are relevant to children of military families.”

Brown said the next Fort Carson Tell Me A Story event is scheduled for Fall 2012.